Flight Safety Information
December 15, 2015 - No. 250
In This Issue
No Longer Just A Toy: Regulators Say Drone Operators Are Pilots
FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule
Brazilian jet returns to Madrid after bomb threat
No evidence of terrorism in Russian passenger jet crash
Egypt: Russian Air Safety Audit Team Prepare Recommendations for Egyptian Airports
Bomb-proof bag could suppress explosion on aircraft
PROS 2015 TRAINING
Bill in Congress Would Prevent Airlines from Charging Fees for the Bathroom
Singapore's Changi Airport to manage two Indian airports
Virgin America to Add A321neo Aircraft to Fleet
Goodyear to provide tires for Boeing's new 777X aircraft
Lockheed Martin says F-35 fighter jet is back on track after years of delays, budget increases
Soyuz rocket blasts off, carrying 3-man crew to space station
CHC - Peter Gardiner Grant Application
Cranfield University's next...'Air Transport Engineering & Maintenance Operations' Course
Upcoming Events
JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions)
No Longer Just A Toy: Regulators Say Drone Operators Are Pilots
A 'Parrot Bebop' drone, used to take images, flies during a demo in San Francisco.
Is a drone a toy or a (tiny) airplane?
To the Department of Transportation, the question is far from complicated.
"Unmanned aircraft operators are aviators and with that title comes a great deal of responsibility,"
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said on Monday while unveiling new drone registration rules.
Starting Dec. 21, all operators of small drones - devices weighing between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds -
need to go online and register their names and addresses with the Federal Aviation Administration. The
government would issue a registration number that would need to be displayed on that person's entire
fleet of drones.
Drones are expected to be one of the hottest gifts this year, with the Consumer Technology Association
forecasting that Americans will buy some 400,000 of them this holiday season. Thousands of them have
already taken to the skies and more than 300 have had close encounters with planes, helicopters and
other manned aircraft, according to one report. (The FAA does not yet track the number of drones in our
skies.)
FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker says the agency's biggest focus is getting through to the
drone fliers that their nifty gadget is pretty much on the same playing field as regular airplanes and
helicopters:
"For decades, the only people who had access to our airspace were highly trained pilots who came from a
culture where safety was deeply embedded. (...) Thousands upon thousands of brand-new users are
starting to fly. And while we are confident that the vast majority of these people care about safety and
want to operate safely, the reality is most have little to no aviation experience. So our challenge is to
educate these new aviators that as soon as they start flying, they're pilots. They have the responsibility to
fly safely and there are rules and regulations that apply to them."
The new regulations echo the rules that were recommended in November by a special task force of
retailers, pilots, law enforcement and scores of other stakeholders. But there's one exception. The
registration will cost money, $5 per operator to be exact. To encourage early registration, the FAA is
waiving the fee for the first 30 days.
Government officials say the mission right now is to spread the word and get people to comply with the
registration requirements, which will include public service announcements, social media and notices from
local law enforcement. For blatant and egregious violations, the FAA can impose civil penalties of up to
$27,500 and criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and 3 years in prison.
Anyone 13 and older can register themselves as an operator; younger children can operate drones under
adult supervision with proper registration.
This is only one of the elements of FAA's drone-related rulemaking. The agency is also tackling a set of
comprehensive rules for recreational drone fliers and another one for commercial drone operators, such as
Google or Amazon.
For now, the FAA's guidance for fliers of store-bought and homemade drones remains the same: Keep
your drones under 55 pounds; fly them within your line of sight and below 400 feet; stay at least 5 miles
away from an airport; avoid flying near stadiums or crowded places; and take some drone classes or join a
club for extra safety.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/14/459661265/no-longer-just-a-toy-regulators-say-
drone-operators-are-pilots
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FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule
Notice Number: NOTC6328
Press Release - For Immediate Release
December 14, 2015
Contact: Les Dorr or Alison Duquette
Phone: (202) 267-3883
Registration will be free for the first 30 days!
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today
announced a streamlined and user-friendly web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small
unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx.
25 kilograms) including payloads such as on-board cameras.
The Registration Task Force delivered recommendations to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on November 21. The rule incorporates many of the task force
recommendations.
"Make no mistake: unmanned aircraft enthusiast are aviators, and with that title comes a great deal of
responsibility," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "Registration gives us an opportunity to
work with these users to operate their unmanned aircraft safely. I'm excited to welcome these new
aviators into the culture of safety and responsibility that defines American innovation."
Registration is a statutory requirement that applies to all aircraft. Under this rule, any owner of a small
UAS who has previously operated an unmanned aircraft exclusively as a model aircraft prior to December
21, 2015, must register no later than February 19, 2016. Owners of any other UAS purchased for use as a
model aircraft after December 21, 2015 must register before the first flight outdoors. Owners may use
either the paper-based process or the new streamlined, web-based system. Owners using the new
streamlined web-based system must be at least 13 years old to register.
Owners may register through a web-based system at: www.faa.gov/uas/registration
Registrants will need to provide their name, home address and e-mail address. Upon completion of the
registration process, the web application will generate a Certificate of Aircraft Registration/Proof of
Ownership that will include a unique identification number for the UAS owner, which must be marked on
the aircraft.
Owners using the model aircraft for hobby or recreation will only have to register once and may use the
same identification number for all of their model UAS. The registration is valid for three years.
The normal registration fee is $5, but in an effort to encourage as many people as possible to register
quickly, the FAA is waiving this fee for the first 30 days (from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016).
"We expect hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft will be purchased this holiday season," said
FAA Administrator Huerta. "Registration gives us the opportunity to educate these new airspace users
before they fly so they know the airspace rules and understand they are accountable to the public for
flying responsibly."
The online registration system does not yet support registration of small UAS used for any purpose other
than hobby or recreation - for example, using an unmanned aircraft in connection with a business. The
FAA is developing enhancements that will allow such online registrations by spring of 2016.
The full rule can be viewed here: www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/20151213_IFR.pdf
For questions regarding this notice, contact Ken Kelley, AFS-850 by email at Ken.R.Kelley@faa.gov or by
telephone at (775) 858-7700 Ex 258.
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Brazilian jet returns to Madrid after bomb threat
The TAM Boeing 777 flight was due to land in Sao Paulo shortly after dawn on Tuesday [Xinhua]
A Brazilian TAM Boeing 777-32W commercial airliner carrying some 300 passengers from Madrid airport to
Sao Paulo was forced to return to its point of origin following suspicions of a bomb on board.
A TAM company statement early Tuesday said that Spanish authorities alerted the crew of a bomb threat
90 minutes into the flight.
Spanish authorities at Madrid's Barjas airport said that the plane returned safely and that all passengers
were evacuated to nearby hotels while explosives experts searched the plane.
According to the Associated Press, no bomb or device was found.
http://thebricspost.com/brazilian-jet-returns-to-madrid-after-bomb-threat/#.VnAIKUorKUk
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No evidence of terrorism in Russian passenger jet crash
Russian Federation has said an explosive device had been placed onboard the Airbus 321-200 and the
Sinai branch of ISIL has claimed responsibility.
The picture showed a Schweppes Gold can and what appeared to be a detonator and a switch.
Russian investigators found foreign explosives from the debris and declared that a bomb brought down the
plane.
ISIS also posted photos of passports, alleging they belonged to passengers killed in the crash though there
was no verification to support their claims.
Mr el-Muqadam said the investigating committee completed its preliminary report on Sunday evening,
which contained all available information that will be further investigated.
Some 38 computer systems have been removed from the A321 for analysis, as well as two computers
from its International Aero Engines V2500 powerplants. "The committee didn't receive until now any info
indicating illegal interference".
The Egyptian statement added that a copy of the report has been sent to worldwide experts officially
taking part in the probe, including experts from Russia, Ireland and France, as well as the global Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Russian Federation told Interfax news agency on Monday they had yet to see a copy of Egypt's report.
Ayman el-Muqadam, head of the investigatory committee, said that despite finding no conclusive results, it
was "continuing its work".
Debris from the jet scattered across an area 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) from the main crash site.
"We can say unequivocally that this was a terrorist attack", he said. The Egyptian air force will assist in
moving the wreckage to Cairo for further scrutiny.
http://waltonian.com/2015/12/no-evidence-of-terrorism-in-russian-passenger-jet-crash/
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Egypt: Russian Air Safety Audit Team Prepare Recommendations for Egyptian Airports
CAIRO, Dec. 11 (Aswat Masriya) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said that Russian air
safety audit team in Egypt completed its task and that "it prepared recommendations on improving safety
systems," reported TASS Russian news agency.
Dvorkovich further said that Russia sent experts to Egypt to discuss boosting safety measures in Egyptian
airports.
However he declined to disclose information about the recommendations.
Russia decided to halt all flights to Egypt in November days after the crash of a Russian passenger flight
carrying 224 people on board, most of whom were Russians. The crash killed all 224 passengers an crew
on aboard.
The plane took off from the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh in the early hours of October 31 and was
heading to St. Petersburg in Russia.
ISIS affiliates in Egypt, formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis before renaming themselves "Sinai
Province", claimed responsibility for downing the Russian plane twice.
An Egypt-led international committee is still investigating the incident and has officially said that "all
possibilities are on the table" but that it is too early to jump to conclusions.
Russia, however announced on November 16 that the downing of the plane was a result of "a terrorist act"
after doing a separate investigation into the causes of the crash.
Federal Security Service Cheif Alexander Bortnikov said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin
that an examination of passengers' belongings, luggage and of fragments of the crash revealed that there
were traces of "foreign-made explosives," read a Kremlin statement at the time.
The statement added that the Russian investigation concluded that a homemade explosive device
equivalent to 1 kg of TNT was set off on board.
Within days from Russia's announcement, the Egyptian Holding Airport and Air Navigation Company
activated a security check plan involving renewing and replacing the airport radiation scanners for
passengers, cargo, luggage, parcels and even vehicles.
The plan is to be implemented in airports nationwide at a cost of EGP 175 million.
According to TASS, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets said last Tuesday it's "early" to speak
about the resumption of flight service to Egypt.
"As soon as the Egyptians ensure comprehensive security system, we will be able to speak about it as the
price paid by Russian citizens was too high," reported TASS citing Golodets.
The crash was another blow to Egyptian tourism which was slowly inching towards recovery. Egypt fears
that the ramifications of this incident will be bad news for its tourism sector, a vital source of much-needed
hard currency.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201512141488.html
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Bomb-proof bag could suppress explosion on aircraft
A controlled explosion in the luggage hold of an aircraft was successfully contained by a bomb-proof lining
developed by an international team of scientists. The technology shows how a plane's luggage hold may be
able to contain the force of an explosion if a device hidden in an item of luggage detonates.
The Fly-Bag is made from multiple layers of fabrics and composites that have high strength and impact,
and heat resistance. The fabrics include Aramid, a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fiber used in the
aerospace industry, as well as in ballistic body armor.
The lining's flexibility increases its resilience in containing an explosion and any blast fragments, said Dr.
Andrew Tyas, of the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, who is leading the research at the
University of Sheffield. The Fly-Bag, he added, acts as a pliable membrane instead of a rigid-walled
container that could shatter on impact.
Laboratory-based blast testing had successfully proved that the Fly-Bag prototypes could withstand
explosions. But it was real-life controlled explosions in the luggage hold of a Boeing 747 and an Airbus 321
that put the technology to the ultimate test.
One controlled explosion was conducted in a luggage hold not lined with the Fly-Bag. The blast ripped a
gaping hole in the fuselage that could have proved fatal if the plane was traveling at altitude. For the
second test the bomb was placed in a suitcase and then in a luggage hold lined with the Fly-Bag. Slow
motion camera footage of the bag at the moment of detonation showed it expands and contracts but does
not tear. The structural integrity of the fuselage was maintained.
Leading British security consultant Matthew Finn said the Fly-Bag could be an ideal fail-safe in the event
that somebody is able to smuggle an explosive device aboard an aircraft.
"The risk that we always have in aviation security is can someone get something on board an aircraft. So a
lot of our time and attention has been focused on mitigating the risk of people getting things on an
aircraft. What the Fly-Bag does is it actually accepts that there maybe an instance where somebody is
successful in getting something on board an aircraft. And therefore, the next question becomes how can
we mitigate the effect of an explosive device detonating at altitude in an aircraft," he said.
The need for some way of mitigating an explosive device on an aircraft was heightened on October 31
when a bomb ripped apart a Russian passenger jet over Egypt, killing all 224 people on board. Islamic
State claimed they were responsible for the attack, releasing a photograph of a Schweppes soft drink can
it said was used to make an improvised bomb that brought down the Russian airliner.
Explosives experts said it was feasible the device shown in the photo could bring down a plane, depending
on where it was located and the density of explosives in the soft drink can. The most vulnerable locations
include the fuel line, the cockpit or anywhere close to the fuselage skin.
The attack drew parallels with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 by Libyan nationals over the Scottish
town of Lockerbie in 1988. An investigation showed a palm-sized explosive in a cassette recorder in a bag
in the luggage hold had ripped a 50 centimeter hole in the fuselage and decompression caused the plane
to break up in mid-air.
Finn, managing director for security consultants Augmentiq, which offers advice to enhance security at
airports, ports and international borders, said the Fly-Bag deserves to be seriously considered as a way to
mitigate such explosives on aircraft.
"I think it has the capacity to transform how we look at hold baggage. We've spent a lot of time thinking
about the reconciliation of passengers and their bags; since 1988, since the Lockerbie Disaster, that's been
a big focus of the airline industry. What the Fly-Bag does is look to those situations where there may be
the device on board and how do we contain that. I think it's a really interesting development and I'd like to
see it deployed more widely" he said.
The Fly-Bag is being developed by a European consortium including Blastech, a spin out company from the
University of Sheffield, as well as partners from Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden and the
Netherlands.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bomb-proof-bag-idUSKBN0TX1KZ20151214
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Bill in Congress Would Prevent Airlines from Charging Fees for the Bathroom
It's astonishing this might be necessary in the first place.
When you're on a plane, it's bad enough when you really have to use the facilities and your window seat is
blockaded by two sleeping giants. Imagine if you had to pay get by.
No airlines currently charge for use of the in-flight restroom-yet. But some airlines say they have seriously
considered the move, regardless of the bad publicity it would surely generate. In an extremely scarce
market with an extremely high demand, it'd be an easy way to make more money. And, as Ryanair noted
when it circulated the idea of adding tolls to their johns in 2010, it'd be a way to incentivize passengers to
do their business beforehand.
But there will be no airline bathroom fee if Illinois Congressman Dan Lipinski (D) has anything to say about
it. Last week Lipinski proposed the "Comfortable and Fair Flights Act of 2015," which would outlaw
bathroom fees, among other odious airline-related policies. If the bill passes, customers could change their
flights for free if the plane's restroom was out of order, and luggage delayed more than two hours would
result in the airline refunding baggage fees.
"Simply put, if you pay for a service, you should get that service promptly or get your money back," said
Lipinksi in a statement on his website. "These are all common sense provisions that will help protect the
consumer rights of passengers."
http://time.com/money/4147490/airline-fees-bathroom-ban/
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Singapore's Changi Airport to manage two Indian airports
Government-owned airport terminal services at Ahmedabad and Jaipur in northern India will be managed
by specialist teams from Singapore's Changi Airport by April 2015.
Both airports are expected to grow significantly in coming years, with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
International Airport (AMD), which serves Ahmedabad, predicted to grow more than 50% in the next 10
years to just under 8 million passengers a year, up from around 5 million today. Jaipur International
Airport (JAI) in Sanganer is expected to nearly double its current 2 million passenger count over the same
period.
The move comes as Changi expands its business to cover the operation of other airports across the region.
At Ahmedabad and Jaipur, it will manage retail space, terminal interiors and public access facilities.
Previously managed by the government-funded Airports Authority of India (AAI), the two airports were
originally slated for privatization this year, but instead were selected for external management by Changi
in pursuit of a "fast-track" upgrade.
Airside operation at the airports will continue to be managed by AAI in the first instance, and tendered
independent contractors will continue operational services, terminal facilities and maintenance.
Changi Airport specialists are due to survey the two airports over coming months to prepare them for the
management switch, and to put working systems in place.
http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/singapore-s-changi-airport-manage-two-indian-airports
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Virgin America to Add A321neo Aircraft to Fleet
CEO says discount airline plans to lease fuel-saving variant of popular plane
Virgin America Inc., ratcheting up its growth again now that it has several profitable quarters behind it,
said it plans to add 10 Airbus A321neo airplanes to its fleet, putting it in the running to become the first
U.S. carrier to operate the fuel-saving, new-engine variant of the larger version of the popular twin-engine
plane -- with engines by CFM International.
David Cush, chief executive of the San Francisco discount airline, said Virgin America plans to lease the
planes from General Electric Co.'s aircraft lessor and financing arm GE Capital Aviation Services, with
deliveries beginning in early 2017. The neo, or new-engine options, of the A320 family of planes, which
Airbus Group SE started marketing in 2010 as a fuel-saving upgrade, have attracted more than 4,400 firm
orders. Airbus in January 2015 officially launched the A321 version.
Virgin America was able to negotiate early delivery positions for the planes from GE, Mr. Cush said in an
interview. The carrier plans to use the 185-seat aircraft, which have a longer range than its current 146-
seat A320s, on routes to Hawaii and to slot-constrained airports such as John F. Kennedy International
Airport in New York. With the additional seats Virgin America will be able to lower its unit costs.
Virgin America operates 47 A320s and 10 of a smaller version, the A319. The new planes will help fulfill
the carrier's goal of expanding its capacity by 10% annually through the end of the decade, following a
slowdown in growth earlier that allowed it to achieve profitability. It expects to operate 63 conventional
Airbuses by the middle of 2016. The company went public in November 2014. In the third quarter, it
earned a profit of $71.9 million, up from $41.6 million a year earlier.
The A321neo offers up to 20% fuel savings over the current Virgin America Airbus fleet and will reduce
carbon emissions, Mr. Cush said. The planes will be powered by engines from CFM International, a 50-50
joint venture of GE and Safran SA. Virgin America, an all-Airbus operator that took wing eight years ago,
has 30 options with Airbus starting in 2020 for A320neos or A321neos, he said.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/virgin-america-to-add-a321neo-aircraft-to-fleet-1450183825
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Goodyear to provide tires for Boeing's new 777X aircraft
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has reached an agreement to provide main nose and landing-gear tires for the
new Boeing 777X aircraft that are set to take to the skies in 2019.
The Akron-based tire maker will supply its Flight Radial tire for the Boeing 777X, the company said in a
Dec. 14 announcement. The Boeing 777X will be the largest twin-engine jet in the world, according to the
aircraft maker.
"The 777X supply agreement is a very important next step in the continuation of the long-standing
relationship between Goodyear and Boeing, and is further validation of Goodyear's commitment to
supplying the aviation industry with premium products and services," said Pierre Jambon, Goodyear vice
president of off-highway tires, in a prepared statement.
Goodyear manufactures aviation tires at plants in Thailand and Danville, Va., according the company
website.
The Flight Radial incorporates Goodyear Featherweight Alloy Core Bead Technology and a variety of
features, including enhanced rubber that offers dimensional stability, longer service life and increased cut
resistance, the company said.
As of Dec. 1, Boeing had received orders for 306 of its 777X airplanes.
http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20151214/NEWS/151219893/goodyear-to-provide-tires-for-
boeings-new-777x-aircraft
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Lockheed Martin says F-35 fighter jet is back on track after years of delays, budget increases
PINELLAS PARK - Daniel Conroy knows the F-35 Lightning II program has had its problems, delayed for
years and costing far more than first expected.
But the Pentagon's ambitious fighter jet project is finally back on track, says Conroy, director of the Air
Force F-35 program for Lockheed Martin, which is building the plane.
"The program has been challenging, flight test has been difficult, but we've worked through a lot of
issues," Conroy said Monday at Lockheed Martin's facility here. "We can see the light at the end of the
tunnel."
Once it ramps up to full-scale production, Lockheed will make close to 200 of the fighter jets a year, up
from the 45 it expects to build this year. The Government Accountability Office, initially forecast it would
reach full production in 2012, but now says that won't happen until 2019.
Eventually, the company's Pinellas Park factory will start working two shifts to make the airplane's canopy
- the windshield and the frame that keeps it in place. About 30 people work on the production line now,
but the project will employ close to 200 at full capacity, said Scott Williams, Lockheed's Pinellas Park
production manager.
Statewide, the impact will be much larger. More than 100 of the F-35's suppliers are based in Florida, and
Lockheed Martin is making sensors and developing computer systems for the fighter jet in Orlando, Conroy
said. In all, the company says the program will bring 13,000 jobs to the state.
The project has gotten a boost recently after years of trouble. The Marine Corps gave its initial okay to the
plane over the summer, and the Air Force and Navy are expected to follow suit over the next two years.
Lockheed officials hosted a demonstration of the F-35's technology for local politicians and reporters
Monday to draw attention to its progress.
Its pitch: The F-35 is hugely complicated - and important. It's designed to replace the military's aging fleet
of fighter jets with a plane that can be used for decades, one that combines stealth with technological
advancements.
"A program of this significance is always going to have some challenges," said U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-
Indian Shores, who visited Lockheed's Pinellas Park plant Monday. "We're going to have an asset adding
great value to the taxpayer that protects our men and women in uniform."
But getting to this point has been difficult for the aerospace giant, and government watchdogs say the
project isn't in the clear just yet.
From design to assembly, the F-35 project is expected to cost $391.1 billion, according to the Government
Accountability Office, up 68 percent from initial projections of $233 billion. And the government is
expected to buy 2,457 planes, 400 fewer than first thought.
In an April report, the watchdog agency said the project had mostly gotten into line and costs have been
"mostly stable" since the Pentagon changed its budget and time line in 2012. But the report was critical of
the plane's engine, saying it "has a long way to go to meet program goals."
And with testing ongoing, "more technical problems are likely," the agency said. "Addressing new
problems and improving engine reliability may require additional design changes and retrofits."
Those comments followed problems the F-35 encountered in test flights. Testing on some planes had to be
stopped when a part of the airframe called the bulkhead started to fracture, and in June 2014, an engine
caught fire because of overheating.
But Conroy defended the program's progress so far, saying that those issues were an inevitable part of
testing and that Lockheed and its suppliers fixed them.
"You don't get through any flight test program, especially one as complex as this, without having a few
things that you just go, 'Wow, I wouldn't have thought of that,' " he said. "But the good news is there
hasn't been anything insurmountable. We've worked through things pretty quickly."
By the numbers
13,000 Jobs in Florida to be created by the F-35 program.
200 About how many people will work on the project in Pinellas Park.
$391.1B Estimated program cost.
18 Years the development process is expected to last.
Sources: Lockheed Martin, Government Accountability Office
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/lockheed-martin-says-f-35-fighter-jet-is-back-on-track-after-
years-of/2257752
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Soyuz rocket blasts off, carrying 3-man crew to space station
A Russian Soyuz rocket climbs away from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Tuesday, kicking off a
four-orbit six-hour flight to carry three fresh crew members to the International Space Station. NASA
A Russian Soyuz rocket roared to life and shot into space Tuesday, boosting a three-man crew into orbit
for a six-hour flight to the International Space Station.
Just four days after three station fliers returned to a snowy landing just a few hundred miles away, Soyuz
TMA-19M commander Yuri Malenchenko, NASA flight engineer Timothy Kopra and British astronaut
Timothy Peake thundered away from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 6:03:09 a.m. EST (GMT-
5; 5:03 p.m. local time).
Taking off under a clear blue sky about an hour before sunset, the workhorse rocket, mounted atop the
same launch pad used by Yuri Gagarin at the dawn of the space age, climbed away to the east atop a
torrent of brilliant exhaust, leaving a crackling roar in its wake.
Television views from inside the central crew module showed Malenchenko, one of Russia's most
experienced cosmonauts, calmly monitoring cockpit displays with Kopra, acting as co-pilot, strapped in to
his left. In another view, Peake, strapped in on Malenchenko's right, flashed a vigorous thumbs up.
The Soyuz TMA-19M crew poses at the base of the launch pad before strapping in for takeoff. Top to
bottom: commander Yuri Malenchenko, NASA flight engineer Timothy Kopra and European Space Agency
astronaut Timothy Peake. NASA TV
And providing a rare, if not unprecedented view, live television from the International Space Station
provided an unusual shot of the Soyuz climbing toward space behind the lab complex, the rocket's
gossamer exhaust plume clearly visible against the limb of the Earth.
The ascent appeared to go smoothly and about nine minutes after liftoff, the rocket's third stage shut
down and the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft was released to fly on its own. A few moments after that, the
spacecraft's solar arrays unfolded and navigation antennas snapped into place.
The space station passed over the launch site a few minutes before liftoff and by the time the Soyuz
reached orbit, the lab was some 1,983 miles ahead. But if all goes well, the spacecraft will execute an
autonomous rendezvous with the International Space Station, lining up on the Russian Rassvet module
and gliding in for docking around 12:24 p.m.
Standing by to welcome Malenchenko and his crewmates aboard will be Expedition 46 commander Scott
Kelly, Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov. Kelly and Kornienko have been on board since last March and
are in the home stretch of a nearly one-year mission. They plan to return to Earth with Volkov aboard the
Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft on March 1.
Last Friday, three other crew members -- Oleg Kononenko, Kimiya Yui and Kjell Lindgren -- departed and
returned to Earth aboard the Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft to close out a 141-day mission.
ESA astronaut Timothy Peake flashes a thumbs up at a cockpit camera during the climb to space. Peak is
making his first spaceflight and only the second by a British citizen. NASA TV
With the arrival of Malenchenko and his crewmates, the station crew will be back up to full strength for a
busy few days of work before a break for the Christmas holiday.
While the new crew gets familiar with the lab complex, work to unload an ATK Cygnus cargo ship that
arrived last Wednesday will continue amid preparations for the arrival of a Russian Progress cargo ship on
Dec. 23.
Among the items on board the Cygnus are holiday gifts for the crew and a refurbished spacesuit that may
be used in mid January for a spacewalk to replace a shorted-out solar array component that has knocked
one of the station's power channels out of action.
Then, on Feb. 3, Malenchenko and Volkov plan to venture outside for a Russian spacewalk. Another U.S.
spacewalk is planned in April to continue work to rig the station for installation of new docking mechanisms
needed by commercial crew ships being built by Boeing and SpaceX.
Along with the spacewalks, Malenchenko, Kopra and Peake expect up to six visiting supply ships during
their stay in orbit. Along with the Progress launch on Dec. 21 and docking two days later, SpaceX plans to
resume station resupply flights in early February following a launch failure last June.
Two more Cygnus missions are expected before the new crew departs on June 5, along with another
Progress and yet another SpaceX Dragon cargo ship.
"It's going to be an exciting time," Kopra said. "I think we'll have most of the ports occupied when we
arrive between all the Soyuz and resupply vehicles. Tim and I expect to see ... maybe a couple of SpaceX
vehicles and maybe another Orbital ATK vehicle. It's a pretty unique aspect of our job in that we use the
robotic arm to grapple this hovering spaceship so that we an dock it onto space station. That'll be a sight."
Malenchenko ranks seventh on the list of most experienced cosmonauts, logging 641 days in space across
five flights including a stint as commander of the Russian Mir station, a shuttle flight and three tours as
commander of the International Space Station.
Kopra is a veteran Army helicopter pilot who spent two months aboard the space station in 2009. He was
assigned to a February 2011 shuttle mission, but was injured in a bicycle crash a few weeks before launch
and was bumped from the crew. The shuttle program ended two flights after that.
"I might be one of the most grateful astronauts to be able to fly in space because once you lose something
you really recognize how important it is," he said in an interview. "So to this point, I would say the two
years of training I've had has been 100 percent worth it, and I'm very excited about going."
Kopra and his crewmates initially expected to spend about five months in orbit, but changes to the Russian
launch schedule added nearly a month to their time aloft.
"Really, the first couple of weeks you're on space station and in space you're really acclimating to your
environment, you're getting used to the fact you're in zero gravity and sort of getting your space legs, so
to speak," he said. "This time, there'll be plenty of time to get on track and do the things we want to do on
board.
"Space station is a great place to live and work, and I'm just so excited I have the opportunity to spend
time on board."
Peake, an astronaut with the European Space Agency, is only the second British citizen to fly in space and
the first to be assigned to a long-duration space station mission. While he's looking forward to carrying out
research on the station, he said he couldn't wait to get a chance to look down on Earth from the lab's
multi-window cupola.
"I doubt that that experience will ever leave you," he said. "Living and working in weightlessness is going
to be incredibly exciting. I've only experienced it very briefly when we do our parabolic flight training in
the back of an aircraft. But to actually let your entire body adapt to this new environment and to
experience sleeping and eating and working (in weightlessness), that's just going to be amazing."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/soyuz-rocket-blasts-off-carrying-3-man-crew-to-station/
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The deadline for submissions for the Peter Gardiner Grant has been extended to January 15,
2016.
Aviation students can now apply for an expenses-paid opportunity to attend the 12th-annual CHC Safety &
Quality Summit, through grants which honour a longtime advocate of excellence in aviation safety training.
The Dr. Peter Gardiner Student Grant, worth more than C$4,000, covers admission to the summit, a
registration to the pre-summit HFACS course, as well as C$1,500 in hotel and travel reimbursement.
Students interested in this year's grants must apply and submit a 500-word essay by the January 15, 2016
deadline.
For more information about the Peter Gardiner Grant please visit the Summit website at
www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com
The application can be filled out here
About CHC
CHC Helicopter is a leader in enabling customers to go further, do more and come home safely, including
oil and gas companies, government search-and-rescue agencies and organizations requiring helicopter
maintenance, repair and overhaul services through the Heli-One segment. The company has a fleet of
more than 230 aircraft and operates in approximately 20 countries around the world.
Contact Information:
SUMMIT
Irina Sakgaev
Safety & Quality Applications Specialist
CHC Helicopter
+1.604.232.7302
summit@chc.ca
MEDIA
Liam Fitzgerald
Communications Advisor
+1.778.999.2923
Liam.Fitzgerald@chc.ca
INVESTORS
Laura Campbell
Director, Investor Relations
+1.604.232.7316
Laura.Campbell@chc.ca
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Cranfield University's next 'Air Transport Engineering & Maintenance Operations' Course will be
delivered in Cranfield (Bedford, United Kingdom) during the week of 22-26 February 2016. More info can
be found at the following link.
https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/Courses/training/Air-Transport-Engineering-Maintenance-Operations
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Upcoming Events:
2016 DTI SMS/QA Symposium
January 3, 4, & 5 2016
Disney World, FL
1-866-870-5490
www.dtiatlanta.com
6th European Business Aviation Safety Conference 2016
February 23-24, 2016
Frankfurt, Germany
www.ebascon.eu
2016 Air Charter Safety Symposium | Safety: A Small Investment for a Rich Future
March 8-9, 2016 | NTSB Training Center | Ashburn, VA
http://www.acsf.aero/events/acsf-symposium/
CHC Safety & Quality Summit | Back to Basics: Prioritizing Safety in a Challenging Economy
April 4-6, 2016
Vancouver, BC
www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com
BARS Auditor Training
Washington, DC
Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 April
http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training
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JOBS AVAILABLE:
Deputy Director of Flight Operations & Technical Services
Helicopter Association International
https://www.rotor.org/AboutHAI/Employment.aspx
Position Available: Airline Safety Manager - Investigation (Engineering)
Cathay Pacific
https://career10.successfactors.com/career?_s.crb=Q%252ffWkAOt5SsrsXlBnG3GK%252bmGYsU%253d
Curt Lewis